So, lets see what Smith has to say (via David Newton)

[AceBoogie]

What would you define as the biggest mistake we have made up until this point?

.

Tanking the 2010 season and then the big contracts that followed

[FirstRoundPick]

I don't have a problem letting a 34-year old #1 receiver go... as long as you have a #1 waiting in the wings somewhere.

I don't have a problem letting a 34-year old #1 receiver go... as long as there's a #2 on the roster who can step into the #1 role.

I don't have a problem letting a 34-year old #1 receiver go... if it makes the team better...

 

I do have a problem with letting the #1, #2 and #3 receivers go... with nothing in sight down the road and none of the above can be answered in the affirmative.

 

 

You dont have a problem then because Steve was a #1 in name only.  He was beat by our own TE and almost by our number 2 that everyone doesnt care about.  

[rayzor]

But we went 12-4 Mr. Scot. There are other ways, than releasing the face of your franchise. Steve meant too much to this team for it to go down like this. You just can't replace a guy like Steve Smith.

there is now a new face of the franchise.

 

hint...you're wearing it.

[poorboysrev]

Good report.

 

I don't understand why Smith didn't say this publicly while he was still a Panther.  Why did he choose to wedge the divide further in the press here in Charlotte?  Why did he decide to serve as a catalyst to try and turn the fans on the Panther FO?  

 

I respected him despite the fact that he was a dick to people, but after this I've lost respect for Smith for wearing two different hats...one to us....and one for the Ravens.  

 

If this would have been his tune the whole time he'd still be a Panther.  It's obvious to me that he's just trying to say the right things to glorify his actions as almost being Paladin and paint himself as a poor victim.

 

The fact is....he wanted that back-end money a new signing bonus of 3.5 mil, and the same base salary he would have gotten here.  I've said before it's about money to Smith.  He's going to make about 12 mill this year.  That's a huge increase in pay.  This guy has just been using real politik to get the money not caring what's in his wake.  He's gone from one of my most favorite Panthers of all time to my most hated.  He did it so well that most fans are unaware of what his intentions were.  What a Benedict Arnold.

 

Steve Smith....bitch up son...bitch up.

 

I'm glad this fugger is gone, and I can't wait to see TD lay the smack on him.

 

What douche.  Glad he's gone.

SO... let me get this straight. You think Steve forced the Panthers to release him so he could go make money with the Ravens on top of what we will already pay him? Ok then why was he upset when the Panthers started leaking that they were going to release him? 

  When has Steve ever worn 2 hats? He's brutally honest to a fault which is probably what got him into trouble with the Shula comments. But he was answering  a direct question. He has said for 3 years now that he wanted the Panthers to bring in a WR good enough for him to slide to the number 2 or slot.

   It's one thing if you think it was good to release him but there's no reason to hammer him because he made it clear that he wanted to stay. He said he would've taken a paycut or restructure so how is that about the money? Did you here Gettleman or Rivera say one thing about asking him to take less money? No.

 

Steve stayed here thru the poo years to the detriment of his career. He resigned when Rivera was hired and asked him to stay instead of going to a contender. He said he wanted to retire here. AND when we cut him he said that he is always a Panther no matter what the paper says, will always live here and loves Charlotte. Should we just blame the school system because you don't know what the definition of traitor is?

  

You need to put down the meth it's making you paranoid dude. I don't know how old you are or how long you've been a fan but there's no reason to trash the best player we've ever had. It makes you seem like a 22 year old living in your parents house jerking off to Japanese cartoons all day.

 

And also it is really lame to call someone a bitch and dbag on your computer that EVERYONE knows you would not say to their face. Maybe I'm wrong though...PLEASE try to prove me wrong if you run into Steve Smith...please.

[TheMaulClaw]

SO... let me get this straight. You think Steve forced the Panthers to release him so he could go make money with the Ravens on top of what we will already pay him? Ok then why was he upset when the Panthers started leaking that they were going to release him? 

  When has Steve ever worn 2 hats? He's brutally honest to a fault which is probably what got him into trouble with the Shula comments. But he was answering  a direct question. He has said for 3 years now that he wanted the Panthers to bring in a WR good enough for him to slide to the number 2 or slot.

   It's one thing if you think it was good to release him but there's no reason to hammer him because he made it clear that he wanted to stay. He said he would've taken a paycut or restructure so how is that about the money? Did you here Gettleman or Rivera say one thing about asking him to take less money? No.

 

Steve stayed here thru the poo years to the detriment of his career. He resigned when Rivera was hired and asked him to stay instead of going to a contender. He said he wanted to retire here. AND when we cut him he said that he is always a Panther no matter what the paper says, will always live here and loves Charlotte. Should we just blame the school system because you don't know what the definition of traitor is?

  

You need to put down the meth it's making you paranoid dude. I don't know how old you are or how long you've been a fan but there's no reason to trash the best player we've ever had. It makes you seem like a 22 year old living in your parents house jerking off to Japanese cartoons all day.

 

And also it is really lame to call someone a bitch and dbag on your computer that EVERYONE knows you would not say to their face. Maybe I'm wrong though...PLEASE try to prove me wrong if you run into Steve Smith...please.

 

What makes me think he's wearing two different hats?  Well GMAN say that Steve has had a great career and he's part of the evaluation process.  Steve says he feels insulted.  Then turns around right after he signs with the Raves admitting he's not a number 2 anymore.  So he agrees with Gettleman, but doesn't admit it until after he publicly blast the FO for saying it.

 

He did stay during the poo years....but was highly paid for it.  He wouldn't have stayed if it wasn't for the money during those tough times.   

 

I guess I'm delusional that I think the possibility of an extra 7-8 million dollars might have motivated Smith to separate from the Panthers.  He's 35 and now he's going to make 11 million this year, and he has the Ravens on the hook for dead money when they release him after this year.

[t96]

Good report.

 

I don't understand why Smith didn't say this publicly while he was still a Panther.  Why did he choose to wedge the divide further in the press here in Charlotte?  Why did he decide to serve as a catalyst to try and turn the fans on the Panther FO?  

 

I respected him despite the fact that he was a dick to people, but after this I've lost respect for Smith for wearing two different hats...one to us....and one for the Ravens.  

 

If this would have been his tune the whole time he'd still be a Panther.  It's obvious to me that he's just trying to say the right things to glorify his actions as almost being Paladin and paint himself as a poor victim.

 

The fact is....he wanted that back-end money a new signing bonus of 3.5 mil, and the same base salary he would have gotten here.  I've said before it's about money to Smith.  He's going to make about 12 mill this year.  That's a huge increase in pay.  This guy has just been using real politik to get the money not caring what's in his wake.  He's gone from one of my most favorite Panthers of all time to my most hated.  He did it so well that most fans are unaware of what his intentions were.  What a Benedict Arnold.

 

Steve Smith....bitch up son...bitch up.

 

I'm glad this fugger is gone, and I can't wait to see TD lay the smack on him.

 

What douche.  Glad he's gone.

 

fug you.

[TheMaulClaw]

fug you.

 

 

Don't think I haven't tried.

[poorboysrev]

What makes me think he's wearing two different hats?  Well GMAN say that Steve has had a great career and he's part of the evaluation process.  Steve says he feels insulted.  Then turns around right after he signs with the Raves admitting he's not a number 2 anymore.  So he agrees with Gettleman, but doesn't admit it until after he publicly blast the FO for saying it.

 

He did stay during the poo years....but was highly paid for it.  He wouldn't have stayed if it wasn't for the money during those tough times.   

 

I guess I'm delusional that I think the possibility of an extra 7-8 million dollars might have motivated Smith to separate from the Panthers.  He's 35 and now he's going to make 11 million this year, and he has the Ravens on the hook for dead money when they release him after this year.

   He has said on the radio and in newspaper interviews for about 3 years now that he would love for the Panthers to bring in a good enough WR for him to slide to the number 2 and prolong his career. I really cannot believe that you never heard or saw that as many times as its come up. He didn't like the evaluating comment but because it sounded to him and everyone else that they were going to evaluate cutting him. Anyone would want to hear that from their boss firsthand not over twitter.

 

The team gave him an exit interview and didn't say squat to him that this was an option. Of course someone with his history on the teams feels like they should be told that man to man. It's about respect. 

 

Again I don't see how Steve separated from the Panthers. THEY CUT HIM......he did not ask to be cut.  It's not like they came to him and asked him to  take a paycut and he refused. They never gave him that option. He and his agent specifically said they would have worked with them.

 

Why would you blame the guy for taking the money the ravens offered him after we just booted him.  It wasn't a long negotiation. Sounds like he just took what they thought he was worth.  I don't see why that pissed you off

 

 

[TheMaulClaw]

   He has said on the radio and in newspaper interviews for about 3 years now that he would love for the Panthers to bring in a good enough WR for him to slide to the number 2 and prolong his career. I really cannot believe that you never heard or saw that as many times as its come up. He didn't like the evaluating comment but because it sounded to him and everyone else that they were going to evaluate cutting him. Anyone would want to hear that from their boss firsthand not over twitter.

 

The team gave him an exit interview and didn't say squat to him that this was an option. Of course someone with his history on the teams feels like they should be told that man to man. It's about respect. 

 

Again I don't see how Steve separated from the Panthers. THEY CUT HIM......he did not ask to be cut.  It's not like they came to him and asked him to  take a paycut and he refused. They never gave him that option. He and his agent specifically said they would have worked with them.

 

Why would you blame the guy for taking the money the ravens offered him after we just booted him.  It wasn't a long negotiation. Sounds like he just took what they thought he was worth.  I don't see why that pissed you off

The team never mentioned the word "release" or "cut" at the combine.  Just that he was being evaluated which I'd hope you want them to do.  They cut him for crying like a bitch on the radio.

 

I'm not blaming him for taking the money the Ravens offered him. What I am saying though is that it was by design.  Smith took a statement by Gettleman and blew it way out of proportion publicly.  Gettleman had no choice but to cut Smith after he did that. If he didn't what sort of message would it have sent to the players and their agents?

 

I said right when he did that radio interview that Smith "dug his own grave."  You can look up my post history on that. He went past the point of no return when he made himself an obvious distraction.  The Panthers probably would have went after Nicks regardless of Smitty being on the roster or not.  But we'll never know, because Smith is so sensitive that he takes everything as an insult, and he does.  I know first hand.

[X-Clown]

.

Tanking the 2010 season and then the big contracts that followed

So cutting a 35 year old receiver who is coming off his worst season is worse than massively overpaying 2 average running backs (among others) which crippled our financial flexibility for years, drafting a murderer, a racist drunk at QB, giving up 2 1st round picks for an average DT, drafting a pillhead ahead of a first ballot HOF receiver because of supposed character concerns, George Seiferts last season, trading 2 draft picks for Jeff Lewis, trading multiple picks for Jeff otah, trading a first rounder for Everette brown, trading a 2nd rounder for armanti Edwards, 80% of Marty hurneys 2nd round picks, and the list goes on.

You're either a prisoner of the moment or haven't been a panther fan for very long.

[poorboysrev]

The team never mentioned the word "release" or "cut" at the combine.  Just that he was being evaluated which I'd hope you want them to do.  They cut him for crying like a bitch on the radio.

 

I'm not blaming him for taking the money the Ravens offered him. What I am saying though is that it was by design.  Smith took a statement by Gettleman and blew it way out of proportion publicly.  Gettleman had no choice but to cut Smith after he did that. If he didn't what sort of message would it have sent to the players and their agents?

 

I said right when he did that radio interview that Smith "dug his own grave."  You can look up my post history on that. He went past the point of no return when he made himself an obvious distraction.  The Panthers probably would have went after Nicks regardless of Smitty being on the roster or not.  But we'll never know, because Smith is so sensitive that he takes everything as an insult, and he does.  I know first hand.

    Well since your saying Steve is so sensitive and gets insulted easily don't you think that his reaction on the radio was more emotional than him rubbing his hands together and manipulating the Panthers into having to cut him?

   And I didn't mind the evaluating comment (I agree everyone should be) from DG but I do think he should've left it at that instead of talking about Steve in the past tense and such that made it sound worse. Whatever you think of the move it was handled clumsily and that made it worse.  

   I'm not one of these with a pitchfork out for Gettleman. He's got his work cut out for him with our cap problem and he's doing what he believes he has to to straighten it back out. That is not easy to do and still field a good team. People need to give him time. He's a great talent evaluator but I'm sure the PR part is a lot newer to him.

[TheMaulClaw]

    Well since your saying Steve is so sensitive and gets insulted easily don't you think that his reaction on the radio was more emotional than him rubbing his hands together and manipulating the Panthers into having to cut him?

   And I didn't mind the evaluating comment (I agree everyone should be) from DG but I do think he should've left it at that instead of talking about Steve in the past tense and such that made it sound worse. Whatever you think of the move it was handled clumsily and that made it worse.  

   I'm not one of these with a pitchfork out for Gettleman. He's got his work cut out for him with our cap problem and he's doing what he believes he has to to straighten it back out. That is not easy to do and still field a good team. People need to give him time. He's a great talent evaluator but I'm sure the PR part is a lot newer to him.

 

I think he was more like, "I'm pissed off....I'll show them."  Even though he got pissed off about something he just admitted was true.

[Happy Panther]

What makes me think he's wearing two different hats?  Well GMAN say that Steve has had a great career and he's part of the evaluation process.  Steve says he feels insulted.  Then turns around right after he signs with the Raves admitting he's not a number 2 anymore.  So he agrees with Gettleman, but doesn't admit it until after he publicly blast the FO for saying it.

 

He did stay during the poo years....but was highly paid for it.  He wouldn't have stayed if it wasn't for the money during those tough times.   

 

I guess I'm delusional that I think the possibility of an extra 7-8 million dollars might have motivated Smith to separate from the Panthers.  He's 35 and now he's going to make 11 million this year, and he has the Ravens on the hook for dead money when they release him after this year.

 Steve has publically said before he would be happy to play slot for us.

 

Hard to play number 2 behind a WR we never drafted or picked up

[AceBoogie]

So cutting a 35 year old receiver who is coming off his worst season is worse than massively overpaying 2 average running backs (among others) which crippled our financial flexibility for years, drafting a murderer, a racist drunk at QB, giving up 2 1st round picks for an average DT, drafting a pillhead ahead of a first ballot HOF receiver because of supposed character concerns, George Seiferts last season, trading 2 draft picks for Jeff Lewis, trading multiple picks for Jeff otah, trading a first rounder for Everette brown, trading a 2nd rounder for armanti Edwards, 80% of Marty hurneys 2nd round picks, and the list goes on.

You're either a prisoner of the moment or haven't been a panther fan for very long.

One thing I wish you guys would really stop doing is questioning how long someone has been a fan. Yes I believe that because of the "Smitty Effect". You don't realize the impact it can have on us bringing in talent. If we can't bring in talent for Cam then you waste the most talented player that the NFL has ever seen. Put Cam Newton on some other organizations and they win Super Bowls.